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Six Questions With Danny Horwits, Partner At Beverly Hills Sports Council

Danny Horwits

The following “Six Questions” short interview with Danny Horwits, partner at Beverly Hills Sports Council, was conducted by Richard Pallarino (@rpallarino).

Danny Horwits
Danny Horwits of BHSC believes a legal education gives an agent a decided advantage in representation.

1) When was it that you realized a career in sports management was right for you?

I was an intern when I was 18 and within the first 2 months of it I realized this was what I wanted to do for my career.

2) What is a typical day in the life of sports agent Danny Horwits?

There is no typical day. The year of a baseball agent is however cyclical.  Now, we are knee deep in arbitration and free agency and days start early and end very late with brief writing.

3) What type of relationship do you choose to have with your clients? Business or personal and why?

I prefer both a business and personal relationship.  Some agents choose only to have a business relationship.  For me, I don’t think you can properly represent a client without having a personal relationship.  Every player is different and their needs vary – you only get to understand those needs by having a close personal relationship.  By having a close relationship with a client, you can understand how he wants his career run – some agents believe they are the boss but that’s wrong – the client is always the boss and to effectively represent a client you must understand his needs and goals.

4) When recruiting a top prospect versus a prospect lower in the rankings, how does your signing pitch change?

While each player you recruit has different needs and goals (certainly those are sometimes classified by the point of their career in which you meet them) there are some very essential needs / goals that are universal.  As a result, those portions in recruiting are similar.  So while each meeting has a certain flavor to it – all players need to make sure they have someone who has his back, can legally best protect him, and will look out for his interests at all times on and off the field.

5) How has being a law school graduate helped you in being a top sports agent?

Having a law degree and a legal education gives you a decided advantage in representation.  The way the legal world molds your thinking, it gives you an understanding of how to best protect your client in every facet of his life.  It allows for you to anticipate problems in the future and to best protect against further issues.

6) What advice would you give to aspiring sports agents?

Best advice – have patience and passion.

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.

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